FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HARTFORD, Conn. (4/14/2026) —What does the Declaration of Independence mean to you? Rebellious, a new exhibition opening April 23, 2026 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History examines the different ways individuals and communities across Connecticut have risen up, come together, and inspired change in pursuit of their own visions of life, liberty, and happiness in America.

Drawing on the Museum’s vast collections, the exhibition traces different forms of rebellion across Connecticut from the 18th century to today, revealing how dissent, activism, and identity continually shape the state’s past, present, and future.

“Rebellion doesn’t look the same in every era, and it isn’t always recognized the same way,” Alex Dubois, Exhibition Developer, said. “We wanted to share the different ways people have worked to achieve the individual rights described in the Declaration of Independence, and encourage visitors to reflect on its enduring call to action.”

Some of the historical stories from the exhibition include

• Items belonging to the laundry business of a Chinese immigrant who arrived in America in 1938, during the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and built his family’s business into the fabric of Bridgeport’s Chinese community
• A rare series of engravings by New London artist Amos Doolittle, created from eyewitness accounts just months after the fighting at Lexington and Concord, capturing what the Revolution looked like before photography and raising questions about how such events are remembered and retold
• Needlework by Prudence Punderson, whose Loyalist family was forced into exile during the American Revolution, offering a perspective that complicates the story of who the founding belonged to
• A coatdress and sash belonging to Connecticut dancer and writer Columbia Anne Botticello, worn to the 1978 National Equal Rights Amendment March in Washington, D.C.
• A photograph of community advocate Olga Mele marching in Hartford’s Puerto Rican Day Parade, a moment that exemplifies her 60+ years activist work for the city’s Puerto Rican community

“Rebellious is part of the Museum’s ongoing conversation about America and Connecticut at 250 years,” Katie Heidsiek, Director of Exhibitions at the Connecticut Museum, said. “These are Connecticut stories, but they speak to something universal — the ongoing effort to make America’s founding ideals real for everyone.”

The opening reception for Rebellious is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 5:30-7:30 pm. It is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. The exhibition will be on view from April 23 through November 1, 2026. For more information about Rebellious and its opening reception, visit: https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/exhibition/rebellious/

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The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1825 as the state’s premier historical society and cultural institution. Located in the historic West End of Hartford, the Museum houses exhibitions, a library, a research center, and a vast collection of over 4 million manuscripts, graphics, objects, and artifacts. The Museum brings the state’s culture and history into focus, sparking curiosity, deepening understanding, and strengthening connections that bring communities together across generations.

Media Contact:
Samantha Skeels
Marketing and Communications Manager
860-969-6089 x105
sskeels@connecticutmuseum.org